Track-clearer



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- A. G. BBERHART.

TRACK OLEARER.

No. 366,767. Patented July 19, 1887.

FIG. 2.

n. PETERS, Phalo-Lhhognpber, Washington. ac.

' (No Model.) 2 Shee'ts-Sl1eet 2.

A. G. EBBRH-ART.

- TRACK GLEARER.

No. 366,767. Patented. Ju'1y"19, 1887.

Nv PETERS, Pbolo-Lilhagnphnr. Washington D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT e. EBERHARI, or TOLEDQIOWA.

TRACK-CLEARER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,767, dated July 19,1887.

Application-filed April 15, 1587. Serial No. 234,946. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. EBERHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0- ledo, in the county of Tania and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Track-Olearers, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in track-clearers; and it consists of the peculiar combination of devices and novel construction and arrangement of the parts for service, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate a trackclearer embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a portion of a car to which the apparatus is attached. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through one of the revolving shovels. Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of one of the shovels, and Fig. 5 is a like view of the prow or point.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A B designate the revolving shovels of a track-clearing apparatus constructed in accordance with my present invention. These shovels are arranged in horizontal positions, side by side, at one end of a car, preferably a streetcar, on which my invention is especially adapted for use.

From the frame 0 of the street or tramway car depend the hangers c, in which are carried the usual-boxes, c, which support the horizontal axle 0', having the usual supporting-wheels, 0' that travel on the rails of a track. A pair of vertical fixed hangers, D D, are arranged a short distance from each other and in front of each of the wheels 0 on the front axle of the car, said hangers being arranged a little to one side of the vertical plane of the wheel which it is arranged in front of.

The rear hangers, D, are connected and braced by a horizontal cross-bar, d, which is rigidly secured to the hangers, and the front and rear hangers, D D, of each pair are provided in the lower extremities with bearings or boxes d,which are arranged in line with each other. In these aligned bearings are journaled the rear ends ofthe horizontal shafts a b of the revolving shovels, and the extreme rear ends of the said shafts are extended beyond the bearings of the rear hangers, D, and have bevel gear-pinions e affixed thereto, said pinio ns meshing with large bevel gearwheels E on the axle of the car. By this mechanism the shovels are rotated by motion derived from one of the axles of the car to which the apparatus is applied; but I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to this particular mode of rotating the shovels, as it can be accomplished by a steam-engine or other suitable motor, as is obvious to a skilled mechanic.

For the purpose of controlling the shovels and throwing them in and out of operation at the will of the attendant or driver of the car, I connect the bevel gear-wheels E to the axle by a spline or feather, c, which works in a groove in the hub of the gear-wheel, so that the latter is capable of a sliding movement on the axle toward and from the pinion on the shaft of the revolving shovel, as well as a retary motion withthe axle.

An operating-lever, E, is arranged in a vertical position above the axle, so as to be within convenient reach of the attendant, and this lever is .fulerumed at an intermediate point of its length, as at c", and loosely connected at its lower end to the hub of the gear-wheehwhirh it is designed to operate in any suitable manner.

I will now proceed to describe the construction of my improved revolving shovels A B.

To the shaft a b of each shovel is affixed two collars, f g, which are arranged a short distance from each other, and each collar has a series of radial arms--preferabl y three in nu mber-the arms for the front collar, f, being numbered from 1 to 3, inclusive, and the arms for the rear collar from 4 to 6, inclusive. The arms of the fixed front collar are arranged out of line with the arms of therear collar. Thus the arm 1 projects from its collar f at a slightly different-angle than the corresponding arm,4, on the rear collar, and so on. To the outer extremities of these radial arms are rigidly affixed the blades 7, 8, and 9 of the shovel, said blades being arranged in a peculiar manner, which I will now proceed to describe.

The blade 7 of the shovel is affixed to th front extremity of the shaft of the shovel in line with the arm 1, and bent in a curvedlinc to the outer end of the front arm, 2, and then in an inclined line continues to the outer end of the rear arm, 5. The blade 8 is affixed to the front end of the shaft in line with the arm 2, then curves rearwardly to the arm 3, and inclines laterally to the arm 6, while the blade 9 is secured to the front end of the shaft in line with the blade 3, curves rearwardly and outwardly toward the arm 1, and then inclines laterally to the arm 4.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the rear portions of the blades are made straight, but do notlie parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shovel, as they are obliquely arranged to present their. edges to the ground and be inclined from front to rear, so that they will act upon the snow properly, which offers a minimum resistance to the blades, because the lateral faces thereof are brought into operative position successively. Thus, when. a blade of the shovel is turned so that its edge is presented to the ground or track, the front portion 'of the blade at the front radial arm is first brought intocontact with the snow, and as the shovel continues its rotation the middle and rear portions of the blade are successively brought against the snow, which fact is due to the inclination or oblique position of the blade.

The front portions of the blades converge to a commonpoint or center on the front extremity of the shaft, and the shovel is thus rounded and reduced at its front portion, to thereby enable the shovel to penetrate and pass through snow-banks very readily.

The shovels are arranged at one end of a car or truck and on opposite sides of the center or longitudinal axis of the same, so that they will be arranged immediately above the rails of the track which they are designed to. clear. The shovels are rotated in reverse directions, and the blades thereof are likewise arranged, the blades of the shovel A, which rotate in. the direction indicated by the arrow y, being inclined from right to left, and the blades of the shovelB, which rotatein the reverse direction, as indicated by the arrow 1, being inclined from left to right, as will be readily apparent by an inspection of Fig, l of the drawings. By this peculiar arrangement and adaptation of parts the shovels are caused to throw the snow, &c., to opposite sides of the track.

From the middle of the frame or truck de pends a standard, H,which is preferably made of elastic metal, and to the lower extremity of the standard is affixed a horizontal prow, H, which is arranged between and beneath the shovels, so as to be out of the plane of rotation of the same.

The sides of the horizontal prow are inclined in reverse directions, as at h, and the blades of the shovels are arranged to sweep into very close proximity to the inclined sides of the prow, so as to clear the snow, 830., away from the latter. The front of the prow, which ter 'of the track, and thus clear the same.

minates a short distance in rear of the front extremities of the shovels, is tapered and converged to a point, so that it will readily penetrate the snow.

The operation of my invention is obvious from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

As the car advances the central prow penetrates the mass of snow to dividethe same and force or press it toward the opposite sides of the track, and the shovels revolve, so that the blades thereof sweep into close proximity-to the inclined sides of the prow and the track to thereby sweep the snow on opposite sides Either one or both of the shovels can be thrown into operation by merely operating one of the shifting-levers, and the shovels can be readily controlled or stopped very readily by operating the levers.

I would state that while I deem the mechanisms herein shown and described as best adapted for carrying my invention into practice, still I reserve the right to make such changes and alterations therein as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a track-clearer, a revolving shovel comprisingthe fixed arms arranged out of line with each other, and the oblique blades secured to the arms and converging to a common point at their front ends, as and for the purpose described. Y

v 2. In a track-clearer, an axiallywrevolving shovel having a central shaft, the radial arms on the shaft arranged out of line with each other, and the oblique blades fixed to the arms I at the extremities thereof and converging at their front ends inwardly toward and fixed to the shaft, as and for the purpose described.

3. In a track-clearer, the oppositely-revolving shafts, each havingthefixed arms arranged.

out of line with each other, and the oblique blades secured to said arms and inclined in reverse directions, substantially as described.

4. In a traclrclearer, the oppositely-revolving shovels and a central prow arranged between and parallel with the shovels, but out of the plane of rotation of the'same, substantially as described.

5.- In a track-clearer, the combination of the Witnesses:

C. B. BRADSHAW, E. F. DOUGLASS. 

